Inventors:
Matthew James REALFF - Atlanta GA, US
Ronald W. Smith - Ben Lomond CA, US
Prabuddha Bansal - Atlanta GA, US
Andreas Sebastian Bommarius - Atlanta GA, US
Melanie Hall - Atlanta GA, US
Jay Hyung Lee - Alpharette GA, US
Assignee:
GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION - Atlanta GA
International Classification:
C12P 19/14, C12P 5/00, C12P 7/64, C12P 7/02
US Classification:
435 99, 435155, 435166, 435134
Abstract:
In one embodiment the instant invention generally pertains to a method for producing glucose for fermentation. The method comprises first treating a biomass comprising a lignocellulosic material with a mixture comprising SO2 and steam at reaction conditions sufficient to produce a composition mixture comprising cellulose suitable for enzymatic hydrolysis. Specifically, the temperature, residence time, and SO2 concentration may be selected by calculating a crystallinity index (CrI) of the biomass and using the calculated crystallinity index as an indicator of enzymatic hydrolysis rate. In this manner cellulose may be enzymatically hydrolyzed glucose for aerobic or anaerobic fermentation.